ARE WE DOING OUR BIT?

So imagine this situation: You switch on the television, you are swapping through the channels and to your surprise, they are showing table tennis. Excited, you immediately take your seat on your most comfortable couch and watch passionately. So what are the first few things you notice? Who’s playing, what tournament it is, what’s the score, and of course how the players look! Deny that, but yes, everyone does notice that. And if that spectator is not from the table tennis family, he/she would rather change the channel than watch paddlers lazily struggling to reach the other end of the table carrying huge weight on the tummy in ill-fitted attire.
Table Tennis is not widely shown on television, but when it is, isn’t it our responsibility to portray a good image of our sport to the world? Sadly, we are not working on this. We do take the liberty to blame the media that it ignores our sport, but what are we doing as players to increase the popularity of our sport which is so beautiful?

Interestingly, during the Commonwealth Games in July 2014, all the important matches were telecasted on Ten Sports. DD Sport covers most of our National Ranking tournaments. The National Championship is shown live all 7 days!

Now, ask yourself, the same question.

As players, I feel it’s our duty to sell our sport in a positive way.

Here’s what we can work on:

1. ON THE TABLE BEHAVIOUR

This one is quiet self explanatory. Nobody would like to watch two people playing, but not fighting hard enough to win a point. It does not matter if you are playing in seniors or juniors or sub juniors, its fun to watch the game when both the players are fighting their nerves out to win each and every point. The killer eyes, the pumping fists, the body language of a warrior and the ‘fighting till the end attitude’ is what is expected out of a sportsperson. Sad and dull behaviour is not at all interesting to watch. Well, I don’t mean drama here, but don’t we love the way Sharath Kamal fights with a killer attitude for each and every point? Amalraj’s epic jump after winning the semis finals of men's doubles in the CWG 2014 has made him famous all over. It was an involuntary act, not planned at all, but his picture was posted all over social media and in all the major newspapers the next two days. Well, this topic is quiet sensitive as how one behaves on the table is one's personal choice. Some like to show, some don’t. But majorly, a positive and aggressive body language brings in some interest and excitement for the audience too. You must be able to engage the audience. It’s no fun to play if there is nobody to watch. Nobody likes empty galleries. Isn’t it? For the just concluded National Ranking Championship held in Indore, DD Sports telecasted the finals live. It was so interesting to watch both Mouma Das and S.Pooja fight hard for each and every point. Mouma is a silent one, but Pooja is expressive. Yet, I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen. That’s the beauty of on the table behaviour. And that’s how we can engage the audience and do our bit to promote the sport we love so dearly.

THE FAMOUS JUMP!

AGGRESSIVE KAMAL!!

 2. ON THE TABLE LOOK 

We as Indians have improved on our technique, tactically we are good, and we are hard workers, then why are we still not able to compete with the best in the world? It’s because of the Physical Fitness level. Yes, we have ignored this aspect of the game since a long time now. It is hampering our personal development as a player on one hand, and the image of the game on the other. Why do I say the image of the game? Well its sport what we are doing, and the basic requirement to play any sport is to be physically fit. Nobody would appreciate tyres coming out from the sides; everyone goes mad over six packs. All racquet sports demand high fitness levels. When tennis, badminton and squash can do it, then why not table tennis? I felt the difference when I was at the Asian Games, and frankly, we are nowhere near them. Sportspersons are all beautiful looking people. No I don’t mean the colour of the skin or a pretty face, but it’s the glow on their faces and the beautiful bodies they posses, which I personally feel is an asset. Being physically fit increases your confidence. And of course, when you are not struggling to move from one end to the other, you naturally rise above all. And then it’s fun for the spectator too. I don’t mean work for somebody else, but all I want to convey is that work for yourself and your sport and you will feel the difference. I did, I am 6 kgs lighter than last year, I feel confident, I m moving well on the table and of course, the compliments! Who dosent like them?
Another important aspect of on the table look is the choice of clothing. Ill fitted clothes don’t give a positive image to the world. Invest in it if you can. Experiment with colours, and a little bit of fashion here and there dosent hurt. Especially for girls, try skirts. They are comfortable and they look great! (It’s my personal experience, I feel much more confident after losing weight and switching to skirts). Again this is a personal choice and depends on what one is comfortable in, but I am just sharing my own views. But look good and bring in some glamour. I’d like to tell you all, that all the major clubs in Europe demand the girls to wear skirts for the league matches. This is just one of the marketing strategies they have adopted which is working well.
We can debate on this for hours together. But then, Saina Nehwal is often spotted in shorts and Sania Mirza always in skirts, yet both look equally amazing while playing. It’s the on the court look. Saina is super fit and Sania is super hot!

3. INTERACTION WITH THE MEDIA

Well, it’s sad and true that our events are not as widely covered in the print and electronic media as we expect them to be. But when the National tournaments are conducted in smaller cities, I have often experienced that the print media surely covers table tennis. Also, in a few major cities like Pune, Kolkata, Chennai, Indore, etc even the district and state tournaments are widely covered by the media. We must appreciate the State Associations for making a good effort. The TTFI has also been working on this lately and there is surely a positive change now. But again, as players, are we doing our bit? When the media comes to talk to us, regardless of what newspaper or news channel it is, we must be able to talk to them properly. We must entertain them and should be able to convey our thoughts and views clearly. There is no room for any hesitation. I don’t mean use superficial English. I love the way the wrestlers from Haryana talk so well in Hindi. It’s not about the language; it’s about your ability to express. It’s sad but true that even our top players who have frequent interaction with the media are unable to do it properly. We must, therefore, as players make a conscious effort to elevate the level of the game during our personal and social interactions. As times are changing so must our tools of promotion. It’s our duty to sell our sport whenever and wherever we get an opportunity to do so.

Table Tennis is a beautiful game and is widely played in India. It has given so much to each one of us. It’s our duty to promote our game. We must feel that responsibility. And it’s not the top 20-30 players I am talking to, it’s an appeal to the entire table tennis fraternity of India.

Understand. Relate. Introspect. Act. If not now, then when?

An emotional sendoff for the Asian Games

ज़िंदगी का बहुत बड़ा सच है,
की लड़कियाँ किसी को नही पसंद है.
जब पैदा होती है तभी से उनकी रक्षा की सोच बनती है,
उनकी सारी काबिलियत इसी सोच से छनती है.

पर आपने इस सोच को बदल दिया,
अपनी काबिलियत से कुछ नया किया.
इतनी ट्रोफी और मेडल देख कर,
सबके मूह बँध हो गये.
आपको आगे बदते देख बाहरवाले क्या, घरवाले भी दंग हो गये,

जब शादी करके आई थी तो
पता नही था आप इतनी बड़ी हस्ती हो,
पर धीरे धीरे पता चल की
पढ़ाई, खेल और घूमने में कितना .फस्ति हो.

आपने खेलों के लिए सब कुछ नियोछावार कर दिया,
अपना बचपन, लड़कपन, सब अपने को प्रूव करने में लगा दिया.
और यही जीवन की सच्चाई है,
की आपने बहुत नाम, इज़्ज़त कमाई है,

माना कई लड़कियों ने अपना बचपन जिया,
पर उन्होने ज़िंदगी में कुछ नही किया.

मैं भी उनमे से ही एक हू पर,
चाहती हू मेरी बेटियाँ आपकी तरह कुछ बने,
औरों के लिए नही पर ,
अपने लिए,अपनी ज़िंदगी के लिए कुछ अलग नये सपने चुने,

आप एक रोल मॉडेल हो सबके लिए,
जो बताते है की ज़िंदगी कैसे जिए,

सोच बदलो, विश्‍वास रखो,
हम भी कम नही,
यह अहसास रखो.

MATCH PREPARATION

I went though the AKG academy diary and found a beautiful piece of information on Match preparation written by former international and performance analyst Rajath Kamal. I have added my inputs to it and shared below.


MATCH PREPARATION:

Imagine a situation where you forgot your lucky t-shirt in the room, or you could not
find transport to the venue and ended up reaching late and could not warm up well, or you ate something that made you feel uncomfortable or you forgot to keep your racket itself. Of course nobody would want to be in such kind of a situation, which unfortunately can happen if things are not planned. And that's exactly why Match Preparation is very important. What you do just before
your match, how you slept the previous night, what you eat, how you warm up,etc are a few things that play a major role in your performance during the match. Although it differs from each player as to what he/she feels comfortable in, here are a few points to keep in mind before an important match:

STAY:

Make sure you arrive at the venue of the tournament well in advance to get acclimatized to the weather, playing conditions, food and accommodation. 2-­3 good practice sessions will help you get used to the playing hall, and understand the behavior of the ball and the table. Since India is a
huge country with different weather conditions and food available in different cities, make sure you feel comfortable with these two aspects as you travel around for various tournaments.


GETTING READY:

Make sure everything is ready for the day of your tournament. Prepare your bag, check your rackets and shoes, extra t-shirts,etc, forgetting anything could cause unnecessary stress. Have the right amount of sleep the night before the match – around 7-­8 hours. Allow plenty of time to arrive at the stadium too; you won’t want to be in a rush. Be there at the venue at least 45 mins in advance so that you have enough time for warm up and mental preparation. If you have an early morning match, its advisable to wake up at least 3 hours before the scheduled time of the match.

DIET:

Eat light before a match. During the match you need to be high with energy. Try to eat lots of
carbohydrates for the major meals(rice, potatoes, wheat cereals, kidney beans, etc) You can break you meal into multiple small eats. If you are a person who needs to eat a bit heavily then you need to finish your meal at least 2 hours before your match. Have small snacks like bananas, apples, energy bars and drinks (Gatorade, lemon water), etc . in your bag to consume just before the match or during the match if need be. Hydrate your body with fluids before you feel thirsty. Since in a table tennis tournament, a player plays a lot of matches in a single day, it’s also important to eat within 45 minutes of finishing the match, so as to recover and be ready for the next match. Avoid all sorts of junk food and alcohol during the entire tournament.

WARMING UP:

During hot weather the body is already warm and needs lesser time to get completely warmed up. Focus on full body stretches and a couple of mild agility exercises. Be careful not to tire yourself with warm up. During colder weathers you need a longer time to get warmed up and so the intensity of the exercises will also be higher. Then, if possible, try to play a few rallies on the table with a friend to get the feel. This completes your warm up regime.



VISUALIZATION:

It’s a good idea to sit away from the crowd, close your eyes, and visualize yourself playing the
match. You can use stimulating music to help you cut off from the crowd. Take a deep breath and
relax and Just imagine the following:­

• you are starting the match very well
• you are getting all your strokes right
• you are very confident about yourself
• you are moving very well, in a rhythmic flow
• the crowd is cheering for you
• and you are winning the match and receiving the trophy!

This technique will help you to a great extent to overcome your psychological discomfort during
the match and make you a lot more confident.
Although there are a lot of different visualization techniques, this is a basic one which, if done
properly, can do wonders in terms of boosting your confidence level, lowering self-doubt,
controlling anxiety, and being focused before and during the match.

KNOW YOUR OPPONENTS:

It’s a good habit to write in a diary about the game and opponent after every match. This will help you analyse your game and it will be useful for future references. If you are playing a match with a known opponent you need to work out a match strategy with the coach. You can take tips from the coach, you can refer to your diary to look for your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses or alternatively you can discuss the game strategy with a friend who has played your opponent recently. This way you are prepared for your opponent from the first point of the match.

MENTAL MAKEUP DURING THE MATCH:

During the match, try to focus on playing your best table tennis rather than focusing on the score. Try to plan out every point of the game. During pressure situations try to take deep breathes, focus only on your plan and be confident. Generally have the following things in mind while serving and receiving:­

While serving:­

• Service is the only stroke that you have full control over. So make the best of it.
• Serve in such a way that the opponent has only one or two options to receive
• Be ready for those two options. Do not serve and then think about the follow up but prepare for it even before you serve.

While receiving:­

• A good quality receive prevents your opponent from taking advantage of his service. Generally it is preventing the opponent from playing an aggressive stroke.
• Plan for the follow up after your receive. If you have a solid stroke to follow-up, your receive will seem sharper.

This a brief account on match preparation and as I said earlier, it can vary from person to
person. However, this is a basic and general suggestion.

I have been following it religiously and I hope that these basic yet important and useful tips will help you perform better.

GOOD LUCK!!

PHYSICAL PREPARATION: PETER ENGEL'S WAY

To reach at the heighest level in table tennis, one needs  to be in the best of his/ her physical abilities. We Indians especially need to get stronger in terms of speed, agility, and power in the legs and strength in the core. Being physically strong gives you an extra edge over others, you move better on the table, you survive better during tensed situations and most importantly, it boosts your confidence level.

I m writing this from patiala where I m currently with the national team preparing for the upcoming Asian Games. The last week was quiet intensive as we worked on the physical fitness on the table in the mornings and off the table in the evenings.

I am sharing last  weeks fitness programme (through videos and pictures)which was given by Peter and hope you guys will like it and try it during your practice session.

MORNINGS:

Every morning finishing the session with footwork. choose any footwork exercise and do it for 5minsX 4 times. [Twice each for the one who is moving]

EVENINGS:

MONDAY:

Target area: LEGS for speed and agility

1. Dribble on the spot and when commanded  left, quickly touch the corner of the table with right hand and vice versa. each set for approx {45 sec X 5 times} x 3 SETS [see video]

2. Lunge squat on the spot for 15 sec and then chair sitting 15 sec. - 1 minute X 3 SETS

                    

TUESDAY

Target area: core

All exercises for 30 sec each

1.Throwing medicine ball sideways 3 times each side [see video]

2. Boat pose 3 times

3. Crunches 3 times [see video]

4. Back strengthning 3 times each side

5. Superman 3 times

WEDNESDAY

Off in the evening. But in the morning I did this:

Peter calls it, its table tennis football. A box full of multiball hes throwing in a rhythmetic speed and different heights and lengths. I need to hit each ball with my legs. This improves your footwork and short step movements essential to table tennis. Focus on the core to move better.

THRUSDAY

Target area: Legs for explosive power

1. Progressive jumps 3 times[see video]

2. Cone speed work 3 times[see video]

3.Jumping with medicine ball throw 3 times.[see video]

FRIDAY

Target area: CORE

Same as the one on Tuesday

SATURDAY

BEEP TEST:

The beep teast, also callled the MULTISTAGE FITNESS test, is a killing one. The test includes running for 20 meters up and down. You need to reach 20 mts within the time given between 2 beeps. The time between 2 beeps gets reduced with each level you reach. Its gets tougher with each level especially after the 5th one. The heighest for the boys was done by G.Sathiyan reaching level 12.12 and girls by Manika Batra reaching level 9.4. I did level 8.2. This is a test of your speed, agility and endurance. We measured the heart rate and  mine went upto 110% with approximate 200 beats per minute. This just means I gave my best, and thats what it also measures. Its a test of will power, you need to beat yourself rather than competing with an opponent. The recovery was within half a minute. You can download it from the play store in android and apple. There are many options but the one which is paid (approx.1 euro) is the best one.

SUNDAY

Off

FOR RECOVERY:

1. Stretching properly after each session

2. Sauna/ steam bath on wednesday and saturday

3. Massage on sunday

4. Drink lots of water

Rest and recovery are an essential part of the schedule and is as important as training. It allows your body to recover from the intensive training and keeps you injury free. Also makes you fresh to work again the next day.

DIET:

A healthy and well balanced Diet is an essential part of a sportspersons life. If you are working out a lot and not refueling your body with the right amount of nutrients it needs, you will not recover well from the training. Infact, it could lead to injuries. We must keep ourselves away from junk food as much as possible. Proper intake of carbs and protiens is a must. And for women especially, do check your iron levels. As table tennis players, we mostly stay indoors, so our vitamin D levels could to be low. A thorough check up would be great to know if there is a deficiency and then take suppliments accordingly.

Hope you all enjoyed the programme like I did. I had a great weekend with good rest and awesome food and I cant wait for Monday to come and start working again!

Good luck! and enjoy Table Tennis!

The most important lesson of my life.

When I was a kid, I use to hear this sentence in the closing ceremony of all the table tennis tournaments I took part in  -“kids, winning and loosing does not matter, what matters the most is participation, and that's why lets give a round of applause to ourselves and feel proud that we made this tournament a huge success”. I could never comprehend this and it seemed nonsensical to me. In sport we all have had our wins and losses. And when the chief guest emphasized in his no-so-interesting speech that it was participation that mattered the most, I always mocked at him. I complained, sorry Mr. Chief Guest but I lost, I worked so hard for this, yet, I lost. Do you have any clue how it feels? It’s is a game the universe is playing with me, this cannot happen. I left no stone unturned, yet I lost. I haven’t even caused harm to anyone that karma is playing its part, then why me?? God, why me??? And on top of this, the gentleman wants to console me by saying that its participation that matters the most!!! Nothing can be more ridiculous than this!

I was innocent, immature and ignorant.

Its been almost 15 years that I have been playing table tennis actively, and when I patiently try to ponder, that what is the most important thing that sport has taught me, pat comes the reply, perseverance.

And that's when I understood, the chief guest was right, what matters the most is participation!!!!

In sport, the winner takes it all. By all I mean- the cash award, the medals, the trophies, the smiles, the happiness, the applause, the interviews, the newspaper headlines and the celebration. But, have you ever thought, what happens to the one who lost in the quarter finals, or the pre quarter finals? Or maybe the one who lost in the 1^st round? Or the one who never qualified for the main draw? He feels lost and deeply shattered. But still, he chooses to go on. It’s his will to fight that keeps him going on. It’s the will to prepare for the next one, work harder than ever before, and the determination to knock each and every player down on his way to the podium in the next tournament. Yes, and that's why I say, what matters the most is perseverance.

Imagine, if we all said that no, I don’t want to do this anymore. There would be nobody to compete with. And competition is healthy. If we said, that I m not good at this, I cant do this anymore, there wouldn't be anyone to do sport which teaches us so many things. And sport imitates life. And that’s why I believe, that the chief guest was right. Winning and losing are just a part of this game and at the end what matters the most is that you participated.

In the year 2011 disappointed me, I didn't win a single match. I didn't go past the pre quarters.  I played the Beijing Olympics in 2008, but in 2012, I was nowhere near it. My ranking slipped to no.17^th in the country. I felt betrayed by hard work. As I kept analyzing what was going wrong, I was being pulled down by a number of people who kept telling me- guess its time to call it a day, looks like you don’t have it in you anymore, or maybe its just a signal that now you must focus on other things, or maybe, get married!!!   To those who tried to pull me down- I forgive you. You were ignorant. I made a comeback in the national team in 2013. Yes, I did it. Although the journey was not smooth, I sacrificed a lot for that comeback, but I did it.  And that's when I realized, that yes, the chief guest was right. I kept going on, worked harder than ever, and never lost the will. Perseverance was what kept me going on.

I am talking about myself because that's what I can best describe and feel proud of. I m sure, each one of you reading this, must have faced a similar situation in your respective careers as well. That's why, take a moment aside, and pat your back. Feel proud of yourself that you kept going. Take pride for the fact that you still refuse to give up. Look in the mirror and tell yourself, I m proud of you and I love you. Admire your perseverance. Forgive the ones who asked you to quit. It does not matter if you are number 1 or number 295, if you got up each time you were knocked down, feel proud.

Thank you Mr. Chief Guest, you were right. A lesson well learnt.

THE SILVER LINING TO THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES!

As the curtains are drawn for the Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2014, there are mixed reactions by the table tennis fraternity all over India. Some have been optimistic, some sad, some expressed their anger, but most of them were simply, disappointed. Frankly, we all are disappointed because the team brought back just one silver medal as against 5 in the Delhi edition four years ago. We as spectators, players and contributors who are so closely connected to the game in several ways are deeply disappointed, imagine the plight of the coaches and the 10 member team who actually experienced it. The blame game continues and everyone, very conveniently, are expressing their anger. 

But I really don’t want to get into that because it will not lead us anywhere. I feel proud of that one silver medal. It means a lot to the team and the entire table tennis family. We must not forget the hard work and sacrifices the players have made. We definitely need to address the issues where we faltered, but first, I d like to share few points that struck to me immediately.

The doubles event is the unsung hero of Indian table tennis. In the past two editions of the CWG, we have won 6 medals out of which 3 were from doubles, namely,  gold in men doubles (Sharath Kamal/Subhajit Saha,2010), bronze in women doubles (Poulomi Ghatak/MoumaDas,2010) and silver in men doubles (Sharath Kamal/A.Amalraj,2014). Despite a good show in the doubles category, it has not been taken seriously. The doubles is an event where you need to know the strengths and weaknesses of your partner very well.  It involves a great chemistry between the two players and needs special attention during practice sessions. In Glasgow, Amalraj paired up Sharath for the first time. It was coach, Peter Engel’s decision to pair them up because Amalraj is strong close to the table and Sharath is powerful off the table and together, they proved to be a deadly combination. The way in which they thrashed the pair from Singapore in the semi finals, was commendable. The indifferent attitude towards doubles and mixed doubles must change. This can be done by introducing these events in the national ranking tournaments and have a ranking system just like it is for the singles. Also, cash awards for the same must be given in the national rankings and national championships. If this can be done, the players will find the best suitable partner and we can do much better in international events. 

I truly believe that Sharath Kamal is a living legend. He has been bringing laurels to the nation right from 2004 when he first won the singles gold in Commonwealth Championship in Kuala Lumpur. Since then the 3 editions of the Commonwealth Games he has won 2 gold medals in Melbourne (2006), 1 gold and 2 bronze medals in Delhi (2010) and 1 silver medal in Glasgow (2014). That’s 10 long years of consistent performance! This is just the Commonwealth I have mentioned, his long list of achievements also include winning the US Open and Egypt Open in 2010, winning the prestigious German Bundesliga this year and many more. He might have not been able to defend his national championship title but he delivers where it is the most needed, proving his might and shutting up the critics. In Glasgow, he was certainly an improved version of himself. We all know his medal count and the amazingly powerful forehand he has, but little do we know about the kind of life he leads. Ask him someday to share his stories, and you will find that his life has been full of sacrifices, hard work, discipline and struggle, every single day. He is a man with a very strong character. He’s high on success and a role model for many, and yet, he’s grounded. And this is what sets him class apart. It’s not only his achievements that fascinate me, it’s also his attitude on and off the table which makes me conclude that such people are true legends.

The Glasgow games also brought out the best of a few young ones who stunned the world with their spectacular performances. Manika Batra, currently ranked 141 was the one to cause a major upset when she beat Yu Meng Yu of Singapore who is ranked 10^th in the world! She proved her consistency by winning 6 out of the 8 matches she played in the team events. In the singles, she was the lone Indian to reach till the quarter finals stage. Manika has a long way to go, this was her first Games, and at 19 years of age, she is the highest ranked Indian (141 in August 2014) according to the ITTF World Rankings. This young lady has the talent, is determined to work hard, and I sincerely hope that she does wonders in the future.

In the men’s side it was Harmeet Desai, ranked 147th in the world, who gave us goose bumps in the semi final stage of the men’s team event. India lost the match against England 1-3, in which Harmeet lost his 4th single to Liam Pitchford, ranked 59, 2-3 but all those who saw the match live, will agree with me that Harmeet was certainly the hero of the evening who won hearts. He was 0-2 down (5-11, 6-11), and in the 3rd set it was 4-10 when Pitchford needed only 1 point to wrap up the match but little did he know that it was going to be herculean task ahead which seemed like a cakewalk. Harmeet, like a true warrior, fought back and won that game 12-10 ( winning 8 points in a row) making it 1-2 and then went on winning the 4th set 12-10 leveling to 2-2. In the decider, he was leading 8-5, but I will call it unfortunate that he ended up losing the game 15-17! Harmeet in total saved 11 match points, before losing out on the 12th one. It was definitely an effort which was applauded all over the world. The young man from Gujarat remained calm and focused throughout the match and displayed courage which matched that of somebody attempting to climb the Mt.Everest. He must have been disappointed, but I look at it as a match which will always be remembered in the history of the Commonwealth Games.

They say that we must look into the positive side of everything, and that’s what I just did. 

Keeping the disappointment aside, we must understand that its sport. It treats everyone equally; the game starts with love all. Rankings don’t matter, because on a particular given day, the one who is the best, wins. Winning and losing is a part of this beautiful world of sport, and what matters the most is the sincere effort and the courage and the will to fight until the last point. Of course, one must reflect and analyze what went wrong, but from now on, it’s all about looking forward, working harder than ever before and bringing back the lost glory in Gold Coast in 2018.

As for me, I miss the games already. The newspapers are back writing huge columns on Cricket and the sports channel are busy showing their favorite and most entertaining (read boring) game. 

But the clock is ticking; and up next is the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea from 19^th September to 4^th October 2014. 

I will be there to support team India in whatever way I can. Will you?

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!!

Flashback 1:  A tensed situation at the Yamuna Sports Complex 4 years ago. Sharath Kamal and Subhajit Saha up against Gao Ning and Yang Zi of Singapore and playing the match of their lives, the Gold medal match for the men’s doubles.  Its  2-2, 10-8 for India and as Gao Ning is ready to serve to Kamal, the crowd cannot stop cheering. The distracted Ning serves; Kamal makes a backhand flick on the forehand side, and zup!!! Yang Zi hits the forehand topspin straight into the net!!! The crowd roars in excitement and joy as Saha jumps on Kamal and hugs him tight to celebrate their victory. Later during the medal ceremony Kamal weeps like a little kid as the tricolor goes up and the national anthem is played. Years of hard work and sacrifice finally paid off!!!! GOLD MEDAL FOR INDIA IN THE MENS DOUBLES.

Flashback 2: Thursday, 7^th October 2010- India vs England in women team semi finals. The stadium is jammed packed as Indian eves look determined to win as they step inside the court with confidence having had beaten the mighty Australia in the quarter finals a day earlier. The girls showing the world that the Indian women paddlers are no less, thrash England 3-0 and win in style.  K.Shamini beat Kelly Sibley 3-1 to give India a positive start. Next Mouma Das thrashes Joanna Parker 3-0 giving her nightmares. All eyes set on Poulomi Ghatak as she smoothly went past Hanna Hicks 3-0 (11-8, 11-3, 11-6).  AND IT WAS DONE! Indian women in the finals for the first time in the history of Commonwealth Games. A match these girls will never forget. And we as Indians will keep praising. Jai Hind!!!

24^th July 2014: Today in Glasgow, the games begin, yet again. A new land, new opportunities, new faces, new games and a new winner. But we hope, India wins more than what they did in 2010. I say because the work has been done. The new foreign coach, Peter Engel who along with Mr.Bhawani Mukherji have worked hard day in and day out with the paddlers at NIS Patiala and China and are confident about the results.  

Our star player and my favorite  Achanta Sharath Kamal looks in fine form .His young team, with Harmeet Desai, Soumyajit Ghosh, A.Amalraj and Sanil Shetty are all in the best of their ability. They have made steady improvements in the game and also the world rankings. Making a mark at the world stage, I wish the Indian men repeat 2006 Melbourne- GOLD MEDAL in teams. And it looks possible. Singapore and England are strong competition but the kind of sincerity and hard work everyone has put in the last 4 years, is commendable and that makes it possible to beat them.  

Also, there are high expectations from Kamal in singles as he’s in great shape and Ghosh and Harmeet in doubles as they have emerged a very strong men’s doubles pair since 2012.

But here is something closer to my heart- the women’s team! Although I missed my place in the team this time again, but we have all been training together since January at NIS Patiala and have lived like a family and I sincerely hope that they repeat Delhi 2010. And again, its possible. The team with well experienced K.Shamini, Poulomi Ghatak, Madhurika Pathkar and young fearless Manika Batra and Ankita Das, are all ready to rock!!

Commonwealth Games- Its once in 4 years, and its one arena where the much ignore, yet cherished sport, Indian table tennis, has displayed its meticulous might!

So, heres to the hard work, the sweat, the sore muscles, the never ending service practice sessions, the 4X5 minutes footwork exercises, the football workout, the Bolt’s paced multiballs, the 20 balls with counter spin rallies, the uninvited injuries, the boring rehab after the injury, the “missing mummy ke haath ka khana” moments, the “yayyy Wednesday evening off” moments, the favourite Friday lunch kadi chawal madness, the post dinner gossip and laughter, and what not.

Lets go team India, and bring home the medals.

After all, we know one thing very well and its the mantra the Indian team has been repeating each day for the past 2 months-

 “WHO AM I?

I AM A CHAMPION.”